Sri Lanka under 19 team drawn into Group D in World Cup
Sri Lanka U19 team set to compete in the tournament in Group D alongside Australia, West Indies and Scotland in the fourthcomimg ICC under 19 world cup cricket tournament which scheduled to held from January 14 th to February5 in West Indies . .
The tournament, which will feature 16 countries in 48 matches, is to be held in the Caribbean for the first time in its 14-edition history.
New Zealand will not be present, with the team having to withdraw due to the mandatory quarantine restrictions for minors that they would have faced on their return journey from the tournament. Scotland replace the Black Caps in the tournament.The Scots join Australia, Sri Lanka and West Indies in Group D, with the hosts hoping to repeat their title success from 2016.
Bangladesh, England, Canada and the United Arab Emirates compete in Group A. India, Ireland South Africa and Uganda make up Group B. And Afghanistan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea and Zimbabwe are in Group C.
However compare to the other groups Sri Lanka has to play with tough teams like Australia and West Indies especially host West Indies has the home advantage in this compitition. They won the under 19 Championship under Shimron Hetmyer in Bangladesh in 2016 while Sri Lanka had to be satisfied with semi finals under the lead leadership of Charith Asalanka same year. Wanindu Hasaranga, Avishka Fernando were also in this Sri Lanka team which was coachedby Roger Wijesuriya.
The Under 19 Mens Cricket World Cup has developed a reputation as an event that not only offers excellent competition and entertainment, but also showcases future stars of the game.
Virat Kohli, Babar Azam, Joe Root, Steve Smith, Kane Williamson and Shimron Hetmyer, Wanindu Hasaranga are among the famous names to have competed in recent editions of the tournament, and the next generation of world-class talent will be on show across the West Indies in 2022.
The tournament will utilise ten venues in four Caribbean countries Antigua and Barbuda, Guyana, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.
Meanwhile Sri Lanka under 19 team led by Dunith Wellalage already having 5-0 series win over defending champions Bangladesh are preparing for the world cup. They couldn’t play more matches due to Global pandemic but head coach Avishka Gunawardena and his supporting staff are working hard to build up the team with this short period. It is very clear Sri Lanka have talented more players at school level and Junior Selection Committee headed by Ranjith Madurusinghe made best effort to talent Search to pick the best team .S.H U Karnian and Waruna Waragoda are the orher two members of the selection committee.
They are working with provincial and district coaches to talent Search and pick 75 players for the residential training camp at Dambulla and pick the squad .The five senior players Skipper Wellalage, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Raveen de Silva, Matheesha Pathirana band Yadiru Rodrigo has pervious world cup experience selection are looking at Irosh Silva from De Mezenod the paceman who has Malinga action to backup Matheesha Pathirana.
Especially West Indies always ready to make wickets most suited for the paceman and the caliber of Yasiru Rodrigo, Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Matheesha Pathirana are good potential bowlers .But Sri Lanka also have more bowling all-rounders and that is going to be extra advantage for this world cup.
Before the world cup the forthcoming England under 19 five ODI series and Asia Cup is a good opportunity for Sri Lanka team to prepare for this important World Cup .The cut out date of the world cup final team selection on December 7 and selection committee is more concerned about England series .Sri Lanka has never won the under 19 world cup and they reached the final in 2000 under Malintha Gajanayaje at SSC grounds losing the final to India which was captained by Mohammad Kaif included Yuvaraj Singh.
The world-famous Caribbean culture and hospitality in Antigua & Barbuda, Guyana, St. Kitts & Nevis, and Trinidad & Tobago. During this under 19 world cup which is going to be host first time in Carribian Island and expected keen tusseltussle among youth teams.
The semi-finals and final will all be held at the Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground in Antigua and Barbuda.
ICC U19 Mens Cricket World Cup Groupings:
Group A: “Bangladesh, England, Canada, United Arab Emirates
Group B: India, Ireland, South Africa, Uganda
Group C: Afghanistan, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Zimbabwe
Group D: Australia, Scotland, Sri Lanka, West Indies
ICC U19 Mens: Cricket World Cup Venues:
St Kitts and NevisWarner Park, Conaree, (Sandy Point Warm-up match venue only)
Guyana “Guyana National Stadium, (Everest “Warm-up match venue only)
Trinidad and Tobago Brian Lara Cricket Ground, Queens Park Oval, Diego Martin
Antigua and Barbuda Sir Vivian Richards Cricket Ground, Coolidge Cricket Ground